Taxi industry taking massive hit, says taxi alliance
The National Taxi Alliance (NTA) in Limpopo says taxis on route during the lockdown are not generating enough money to show a profit, and it has had to subsidise them.
LIMPOPO – Provincial Public Relations Officer, Frans Kgasago says the taxi industry is taking the biggest hit from Covid-19.
“We are the most affected because we still have to transport essential workers without it being profitable. There is no one making a profit during this time.” Kgasago added that they understood the reasons behind the restrictions and would continue to adhere to them, but they are feeling the blow.
He told BONUS that it was however, a lot easier after Minister, Fikile Mbalula increased the passenger load percentage to 70% as opposed to the 50% initially set out.
“The operating times are also killing us, being told we can only load and be on the road at certain times is difficult. There isn’t enough time for all the taxis at each rank to rotate in a day.”
Kgasago says the alliance along with some owners are responsible for the subsidy and not the government. “We had to decide to take money from our own pockets because this virus affects all of us.
“If we do not adhere to all the guidelines, we run the risk of spreading the virus which might lead to death and we won’t have passengers to load in the future.”
He says the only reason why there are still taxis on the road is because the alliance feels the need to help essential workers. According to Kgasago, they are keeping to all precautionary measures in prevention of the virus like sanitising the taxis and commuters they board. “Most of these people, as essential workers already have gloves and masks provided to them by their employers which also assist us in our taxis. We do not fight against the regulations. We fight against the virus because if we don’t we run the risk of spreading it,” he concluded.
